With all seriousness,

Keith is the epitome of cool onstage, but when did he start doing the leg kicks?
And crouching/squatting down real low?.

I've always loved his stage presence, especially the '70's.
But some of his onstage antics from the last 20 years seem strange.

Ronnie gave Keith some Jackie Chan videos in the early 80's....



ROCKMAN

78 - going cordless made a big difference to Keith's moves,
then the stint co-fronting the New Barbarians amplified that tendency.
the process of getting unhooked helped too i'm sure.
then in 81 the giant venues a] required more than one Stone being visually interesting in a Big Way
and b] gave him enough room to kick without bashing in his amp and/or his bassplayer.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-25 08:02 by with sssoul.

with sssoul Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> in 81 the giant venues a] required more than
> one Stone being visually interesting in a Big Way
> and b] gave him enough room to kick without
> bashing in his amp and/or his bassplayer.


The first time I saw the Stones was in '81 at LA Coliseum.
I don't remember Keith being very theatrical. On the contrary, he was stoic and focused. (maybe a little out of focus).
There was no strange posing and kicking whatsoever. He didn't run from one end of the stage to the other.
He didn't speak much, and there was no "It's good to be here..." babble. It was all sincere.
He held down the fort, and did a great job of doing it.

But now I wonder, how much of it is an act?

smile: they're entertainers, on stage. it's *supposed* to be an act.

and if Keith wasn't kicking at the 81 show you saw, then the show you were at was unusual.
but you asked when Keith started the large-scale moves, and most of them were in beautiful evidence by 81.
there are plenty of photos and footage, if you look around.

Keith's always moved real fine when he plays, though - i think it was Spud who called it
"playing guitar with his whole body", and it's beautiful to see the music moving the musician.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-25 08:58 by with sssoul.

with sssoul Wrote:
> and if the 81 show you saw was an exception, good
> for you; but you asked when Keith started the
> large-scale moves,
> and most of them were in beautiful evidence by 81.
> there are plenty of photos and footage, if you
> look ...
>

It is true that 181 tour was the start when Keith started to 'share' the frontman duties, even though I am not sure if Mick was very grateful at all...

But I remember reading Keith saying at the time (was it one of those "Last Tour" books?) that the game is different when there are cameras on. Then you need to 'fool around'. Nowadays they film everything, but then the question was more about some concrete deals - Hal Ashby movie or Hampton television show. For the last one I think Keith was even nervous how to act: concentrate on playing or 'fool around'?

It looks like that 1981/82 was the last tour Keith was more or less the musician who 'shines when the band shines'. I guess his solo records and tours changed the situation, and he has been a 'star', a second frontman ever since. Funny though, when during the early part of the European show Keith didn't much 'fool around' I remember people being shocked that how he has 'lost it' now.

- Doxa

Hairball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With all seriousness,
>
> Keith is the epitome of cool onstage, but when did
> he start doing the leg kicks?
> And crouching/squatting down real low?.
>
> I've always loved his stage presence, especially
> the '70's.
> But some of his onstage antics from the last 20
> years seem strange.


Amen. He was always cool, the coolest guy on earth. The spontanous kicks and moves in 1981-82 are expressions of quitting heroin in 1980. But the kicking, moves etc 1989 - is something else.

with sssoul Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> then in 81 the giant venues a] required more than
> one Stone being visually interesting in a Big Way


Hahaha, never thought you of all people would come up with the "suggestion" that Keith might not have been visually interesting in a Big Way before 81.

(Just kidding of course and before you start your reply, I know I am turning your words around.)

But more seriously, I think the knowledge that there are cameras all around you all the time have some influence on the way you behave on stage. The visual aspects of the show have become more and more important over the years and the big video screens blow up every little thing you do on stage. So I think Keith has grown more aware of his moves being visible for everybody and he gave the audience something to look at as well as something to listen to.

Circa 1989..No Creds



ROCKMAN

One of the things I love in Keith is the way he moves.In a way you can tell what he is playing by his body move.Coolest guitar player ever along with Hendrix for me in a different way.

I suppose at least none of his moves are choreographed and are spontaneous.

Good one, Rockman! What a shot!

> But more seriously, I think the knowledge that
> there are cameras all around you all the time have
> some influence on the way you behave on stage.

My point too. I dont like his kicking etc but it s different with all the cameras.